Sterilizer for removing cake-icing.



E. E. LAWRENCE.

STERILIZER FOR REMOVING CAKE ICING.

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E. E. LAWRENCE.

STERILIZEH FOR REMOVING CAKE ICING.

APPLICATION man NOV.22, I912.

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EDWARD E. LAWRENCE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOLOOSE-WILESBISCUIT COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OIEJMISSOURI.

STERILIZER .FOR REMOVING CAKE-ICING.

Application filed November 22, 1912.

and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sterilizersfor Removing Cakelcmg, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to sterilizers, particularly intended for use inremoving icing from wire trolley hooks on which the cakes are supportedwhile subjected to the icing operation and for thoroughly cleansing saidhooks.

An incidental purpose of the invention is the reclaiming of the icingremoved from the hooks.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have disclosed asingle embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in verticallongitudinal section, of a sterilizer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 isa detail in vertical, longitudinalsection, representing a portion of thedischarge end of the sterilizer; Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of thesterilizer; Fig. t is a vertical transverse section thereof; and Fig. 5is a longitudinal transverse section thereof on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Cakes and like edibles have long been coated with icing. This operationis customarily practised by hanging the cakes upon hooks carried byso-called icing trolleys. The cakes so carried are passed to and frothrough suitable driers and are ultimately removed from the hooks. Ithas been exceedingly difficult to remove the icing from the said hooksso that the latter are in satis factory condition for re-use. Heretoforeso far as I am aware, the hooks have been washed in hot water and thewater has been boiled down so as to reclaim the sugar of the icing. Thisprocess is objectionable for several reasons, one of which is that itnecessitates the use of more steam than the reclaimed sugar is worth.

In accordance with my invention I pro vide a suitable conveyerpreferably composed of a pair of chains corresponding in all substantialrespects to the so-called icing trolley. The e ch ins, are pr ded with.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 732,814.

suitable projections to receive the hooks. The chains or other suitableconveyers travel througha suitable sterilizer, wherein they aresubjected to the action of superheated steam. In this manner, theicingis very quickly and inexpensively removed from the hooks, and theicing may be reclaimed at small expense.

Other features of'the invention will be set forth in detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the uprights or standardsof the apparatus are indicated at 1 in the several figures, beingcomposed preferably of four angle iron members suitably connectedtogether and having extending upwardly therefrom a suitable housing.This housing may be composed of a suitable number of angle iron members2 arranged in a general truncated, pyramidal form and having an innersheathing or facing of galvanized sheeting 3 or other suitable material.Preferably I provide some suitable non-heatconducting or insulatingsurface, such, for example, as eighty-five per cent. magnesia blocks 4.which may be secured in position by magnesia cement or any othersuitable manner. I may provide an outer facing 5 of some suitablematerial, such, for example, as; a layer of cheese cloth painted. withenamel. It is to be understood, however, that the housing-and itssupport may be of any suitable construction.

The housing is entirely closed at its upper end, but at its lower endisentirely open across the entire inlet end 6 and the entire outlet end 7.

While any suitable conveyer may be provided fortthe hooks, I preferablyemploy a pair of endless chains 8 which may be substantially identicalin construction with the so-called icing trolley chains. These chainsare supported upon suitable sprocket wheels 8, 9, arranged-upon shafts10, 11, the shaft 11 being shown as mounted interiorly of the housing.The shaftlO is represented as exterior to the outlet endof the housingand as provided with a pulley 12 by which the said shaft may bepositively driven from any suitable source of power. Preferably thesprocket pinions 8 are not positively driven.

The chains 8 are providedwith suitable inwardly.v extending projections13 arranged in pairs, and; upon which the hooks l t are placed by theattendant at the inlet end 6. These so-called hooks, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 4:, are preferably of general U-sha e, the upturned armsof which are provi ed with hooked or looped extremities 15 taking overthe said projections 13. Upwardly extending from the cross portion ofthe hooks 1 1 are the pins 16, upon which the iced cakes or otherarticles are suitably impaled. In using these hooks the cakes arecustomarily impaled upon the pins 16, and the hook is then manuallydipped with the cakes into the icing container, and then hung upon thetrolley chains of the drier. In this dipping and drying operation, theentire surface of the hooks becomes coated with the icing, and as theicing dries it becomes very diflicult to It will be observed that thehooks 14 are suspended upon the projections 13 with the open side of theterminal hook toward the attendant. This is preferably done in order topermit the ready and automatic removal of the hooks from the chains 8after treatment in the sterilizer. The hooks may be removed in anysuitable manner from the chains. It is obvious, however, that they aredischarged in a highly heated condition. For this reason, and also inorder to operate the apparatus at less expense, I preferably provide forthe automatic discharge of the hooks. In this embodiment of theinvention, 1 accomplish this result by providing a transverse shaft 16having extending therefrom a pair of rods 17 here shown as extendinginto proximity to the shaft 10. The hooks 1 1 as they arrive at thepoint of discharge ride upon the upper surface of the rods 17, asrepresented in Fig. 2, and are thus released from their supportingprojections 13. In the onward movement of the chains, these projections13 tumble the hooks off the rods 17, so that they fall into a suitablereceiver 18, as represented in Fig. 2. The chains 8 are endless, asrepresented, so that the described operation may be continued indefinitely.

In order to provide a suitable agent for removing the icing, I introducesteam into the housing. For this purpose, I have provided a steam inletpipe 19, which, as indicated at 20 in Fig. 1, extends transverselyacross the housing and is provided with small discharge'openings 21. Theinlet pipe 19 is provided with a suitable valve 22, and in order tosecure the best results, the steam at a suitable pressure, as, forexample, fifty pounds, is admitted into the sterilizer until all wateris blown out of the pipes. Then the valve 22 is shut off until it isbarely opened, the steam pipe being preferably covered up to the pointwhere it enters the sterilizer, as it is of exceeding importance .inobtaining the best results that the steam be dry. By very slightlyopening the valve, the steam is throttled and so is raised to a highertemperature as it is discharged than it would be if the valve were fullyopened. Preferably the steam is discharged into the housing at atemperature of 212 F., that is, it is superheated.

Immediately beneath the steam inlet pipe 20, I preferably provide agutter or deflector 23 which is here shown as extending transversely ofthe housing. Not only does this gutter or deflector prevent the directdownward discharge of the admitted steam, but it conducts all water ofcondensation to the side walls of the housing, as clearly shown in Fig.41-.

1t is important that the water of condensation be promptly removed fromthe housing, and that it shall not drip into the reclaimed icing.Therefore 1 provide certain of the walls of the housing, for (X11ll'1])l0, the two end walls, with inclined gutters or troughs 2 1, one ofwhich is indicated in Fig. 1. As there shown, this gutter is of generalinverted V-form, and is open at its upper face along its entire lengthso as to receive all water of condensation that may trickle down the endwall. Both of the end troughs 2-1- discharge downwardly, as indicated insaid figure, into troughs 25, which extend along substantially the loweredges of the side walls, being suitably inclined if desired and providedwith suitable outlets 26, which may be provided with valves.

The housing is preferably provided with a suitable pyrometer 27 insertedin one of the walls thereof.

The icing, customarily containing sugar, glucose and gelatin, drips fromthe hooks into a suitable hopper 28 tapered as repre sented and arrangedbelow the inlet and outlet openings 6 and 7 for the hooks. This hopperis preferably provided with a suitable valve 29, which is desirably aquick opening valve and may be of the so-called Lunkenheimer type.Beneath the hopper, I may provide a suitable receptacle 30 to receivethe icing. It will be observed that the housing is entirely open at theends where the hooks are inserted and discharged. The superheated drysteam admitted at the upper part of the housing fills substantially theentire inclosure of the housing, but across the lower end of the housingat about the level of the top of the openings 6 and 7, a veil or layerof saturated steam extends. This saturated steam does not perform anyfunction in the cleaning of the hooks, but does form a seal for theoverlying superheated steam. The temperature of the layer of saturatedsteam is substantially 200 to 212 F.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the icing hooksmay be readily and thoroughly cleaned at slight expense, and that ifdesired the sugar of the icing may be reclaimed. The employment ofsuperheated steam is of great importance, as by its use I have solvedthe problem of thoroughly cleaning the hooks at comparatively slightexpense.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims:

1. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articles,comprising in combination, a housing open at its lower part to receivesaid hooks or other articles, and closed against the escape of steamexcept at said open lower part, means for introducing superheated steaminto a portion of said housing above said open lower part and forinterposing a layer or veil. of saturated steam at the said open lowerpart, and means for passing the icing hooks or other articles to besterilized and cleansed into said housing through said veil of saturatedsteam into the zone of superheated steam and again through said veil ofsaturated steam out of said housing.

2. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articles,comprising in combination a housing open at its lower partto receivesaid hooks or other articles, and closed against the escape of steamexcept at said open lower part, means for introducing superheated steaminto a portion of said housing above said open lower part whereby alayer or veil of saturated steam is interposed at the said open lowerpart, and means to subject the icing hooks or other articles to besterilized and cleansed to the action both of the superheated steam inthe upper portion of the casing and of the said veil of saturated steam.

3. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articlescomprising in combination, a housing permanently open at its lower partto receive said hooks or other articles, means for admitting superheatedsteam into the portion or" said housing abOVe said permanently openpart, means including a deflector for the steam adjacent the point ofinlet thereof for maintaining superheated steam in said housing andconstituting means to direct water of condensation to a wall of thehousing out of contact with said icing hooks or other articles.

A. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articlescomprising in combination, a housing having a permanently open, lowerpart, means: for introducing superheated steam into said housing at itsupper portion and for maintaining superheated steam therein, and troughsarranged along walls of the housing for conducting off water ofcondensation, thereby to prevent contact of said water of condensationwith said hooks or other articles.

5. A sterilizer for icing hooks and thelike comprising in. combination ahousing for the reception of the sterilizing fluid, an endless chainconveyer having icing hook receiving projections and guides to engagesaid hooks adjacent the point of discharge, to release said hooks fromsaid receiving projections.

6. A sterilizer for icing hooks and the like comprising in combination ahousing for the reception of the sterilizing fluid, said housing havingopen inlet and outlet portions, an endless chain conveyer supportedwithin said housing and extending into proximity to said inlet andoutlet portions for the manual application and automatic discharge ofthe hooks, and guides to engage said hooks adjacent the outlet and torelease therefrom the chain.

7. A sterilizer for icing hooks and the like comprising in combination ahousing having means for introducing superheated steam thereinto, saidhousing having a permanently open lower end, chain conveyers havingmeans to support icing hooks, said chains having inclined runs supportedadjacent the front and rear of the housing for the manual applicationand automatic discharge of the hooks, provisions for maintaining asaturated steam seal adjacent the open part of said casing, and guidesadjacent the discharge to contact with the hooks and effect theirautomatic release from said chains.

8. An apparatus for subjecting articles to the action of steam,comprising in combination a housing having means for introducing steamthereinto, a conveyer for con veying articles within said housing, and ahopper for receiving drippings from said articles, the housing having atrough for receiving water of condensation and maintaining it out ofcontact with said drippings.

9. An apparatus for sterilizing icing hooks, comprising in combination ahousing having means for introducing steam into the upper portionthereof, said housing being permanently open at its lower portion, aconveyer to receive the hooks and to convey them through and dischargethem from the housing, and a hopper for receiving the melted icing fromsaid hooks, said housing having a trough for receiving water ofcondensation and maintaining it out of contact with the drippings fromsaid hooks.

10. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articlescomprising in combination, a housing permanently open at its lower partto receive said hooks or other articles, and closedat its upper partagainst the escape of steam, means for admitting superheated steam tothe upper portion of said housing and to said articles while in theupper part thereof and for sealing the article admission opening of saidhousing by a layer of saturated steam, whereby the articles aresubjected to the action of the superheated steam in said housing, andmay be subjected to the action of said layer of saturated steam.

11. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articlescomprising in combination, a housing permanently open at its lower partto receive said hooks or other articles, means for compressing steam andfor thereafter admitting it in a superheated condition to the'upperportion of said housing and to the articles in said upper portionthereof, and for sealing the open bottom of the housing by the condensedlayer or stratum of the steam, whereby the articles are subjected to theaction of the superheated steam in said housing, and means for passingsaid icing hooks or other articles into the housing through saidpermanently open, lower part, thence upward within and through saidhousing.

12. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articlescomprising in combination, a housing permanently open at its lower partto receive said hooks or other articles, means for introducingsuperheated steam through and into the upper portion of said housing,said housing being structurally closed against the escape of steamexcept at its open, lower portion, means for efiecting the sealing up ofthe open, lower part of the housing by a veil or layer of saturatedsteam, and means for passin the icing hooks or other articles to besterilized and cleansed into said housing through said veil of saturatedsteam, thence upwardly inside the housing into the saturated steamtherein, and finally downwardly in said housing and out therefromthrough said veil of saturated steam and said open, lower end.

13. A sterilizer and cleanser for icing hooks and other articles,comprising in combination a housing open at its lower part to receivesaid icing hooks or other articles, and closed against the escape ofsteam except at said open lower part, means for introducing superheatedsteam into a portion of said housing above said open lower part, wherebya sealing veil or layer of saturated steam is interposed at said openlower part.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD E. LAlVRENCE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR 0. Boone, WILLIAM WV. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

